Foundations Are Deepening Racism Even as They Seek to Fight It

By Trabian Shorters

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Army National Guard Sgt. Franswu Lloyd tackles an obstacle course in a competition for Georgia guardsmen. Relative to their overall population, African-Americans are more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to enlist in the Army, according to Pentagon figures.

Ever since President Lyndon Johnson declared the War on Poverty in 1964, foundations have adopted a D-Day-style approach to joining in the fight: Nonprofit leaders (mostly white people) are the Allies landing in embattled communities to "help at-risk...